Do you ration screen time?

[LizK]

DS would if he chose spend large amounts of his time on the PC or Wii or in front of the TV. We get times when he just wants to gravitate from screen to screen like an addict. He loves computers and the like, is good on them and one of the few things he can focus on for any length of time. He struggles to play on his own and will spend the rest of his time superglued to me. Screens are my respite too I guess!

 

However I had always been conscious that too much time in front of screens is 'not a good thing' and try to ration him. That can be fun and games especially when he hasn't got the concentration to play unsupported with his other toys. Aside from concerns that TV and screens may be rotting his brain and also how can I complain if he has delayed language or social skills if he spends his time in front of a screen screens really affect his behaviour. Particularly the Wii or computer games. If he is on them for more than 40 minutes he slowly becomes hyperaroused, aggressive and emotionally impulsive or locked away. This can last for a couple of hours after he has been removed from the screen. His concentration afterwards is particularly poor and if it is too close to bedtime stops him sleeping. DS2 (NT) is less into screens but if he does go on them they don't affect his behaviour afterwards half so much. I do feel a bit mean limiting DS1's time on something he enjoys so much but I feel quite strongly too much time simply is not good for him either.

 

We have had to have quite strict rules now around how much access DS can have to the Wii and PC. He is allowed 40 mins Wii time when he comes home from school and 30-40mins PC time. Some days he will watch TV for 20 mins. Weekends are much more variable as I simply cannot regiment my life and preplan to the same degree though it is probably more TV time (a lot more sometimes!) that he has. Is that a lot? Typing it out it sounds a lot.

 

It's always somewhat of a battle getting DS off a screen though with prewarning, use of clock or timers and becoming routine it is easier. On the odd occasion he even comes off now unprompted ! Some days though, those sorts of day when life is a bit more difficult, DS is stressed or cannot concentrate or I am tired letting DS1 have free access to screens is the tempting option, sometimes just cannot face the constant battle and crave peace and quiet. But those days are the ones when I really should stick to the rules rigidly as those are the days when too much screens does equal meltdown.

 

So is your child affected by how long they spend on screens? How does it affect them? Do you think too much access to screens can adversely affect their concentration or ability to socialise etc.

 

If your child is affected by screens do they have a comorbid diagnosis of ADHD? DS probably does and have read these children are more sensitive to screens etc.

 

How much time do you allow your child to have access to screens? How do you enforce it? What are your rules?

 

Does it get worse as they get older ? Not sure I want to know the answer to that one LOL!

 

Thanks

 

Liz x

[connieruff]

Hi,

My older NT sons have always been addicted to Playstation and PCs etc, and they are now both going to Uni.

I used to hide the PS and take it my mums etc and I would get really upset if they played in the summer holidays - this is when I would take it away from them.

My youngest aspie son has just discovered Xbox and he plays on one game the whole time, driving cars around - he is addicted and if I have to take him off he bangs his head on the door, flaps his hands and crys.

If I give him notice ie say to him you have 20 more minutes and then keep counting down, to 5 minutes then he is better than if I say to him right thats it, and just pull him off it.

I'm hoping that he will get bored playing the same game - but... it does seem to relax him and he really enjoys it, so I wont stop him altogether but get him into the routine of only having so long on it. When you take your son off it, then have something else for him to do that he enjoys, maybe take him out in the car or divert his attention with a DVD and a nice hot chocolate or something he likes.

You have to be careful also that they dont get Xbox hand, my son couldn't grasp a pencil because he had been on the Xbox for too long.

 

Good luck,

C

 

[connieruff]

Hi,

My older NT sons have always been addicted to Playstation and PCs etc, and they are now both going to Uni.

I used to hide the PS and take it my mums etc and I would get really upset if they played in the summer holidays - this is when I would take it away from them.

My youngest aspie son has just discovered Xbox and he plays on one game the whole time, driving cars around - he is addicted and if I have to take him off he bangs his head on the door, flaps his hands and crys.

If I give him notice ie say to him you have 20 more minutes and then keep counting down, to 5 minutes then he is better than if I say to him right thats it, and just pull him off it.

I'm hoping that he will get bored playing the same game - but... it does seem to relax him and he really enjoys it, so I wont stop him altogether but get him into the routine of only having so long on it. When you take your son off it, then have something else for him to do that he enjoys, maybe take him out in the car or divert his attention with a DVD and a nice hot chocolate or something he likes.

You have to be careful also that they dont get Xbox hand, my son couldn't grasp a pencil because he had been on the Xbox for too long.

 

Good luck,

C

 

[Stella63]

Hi Lizk,

 

An interesting question and one that I think about with both my kids.

 

AJ was always completely obsessed with whatever game he played to the point of complete anger and loss of self control. He smashed game boys, playstation controllers, computer screens etc - there was something in him that could not let a game get the better of him. It was better when he started playing World of Warcraft online because there were no levels as such and therefore less pressure but he would then get angry if the internet slowed down and he did become obsessed with playing the game (and I have heard the game likened to a cocaine addiction). At the time I felt he was safer inside on the computer because I could envisage what he would be like outside with his personality and I have been proved right because about 18mths ago he dropped the computer, started going out and is now completely off the rails with a bunch of losers - drugs, motorbikes, school refusal, stealing, lying, you name it!!!

 

OJ, on the other hand, has a Wii, Xbox360, PS2, Nintendo 64, Gamecube, computer (playing World of Warcraft), did have a DS but was stolen by brother, and he doesn't have that obsessiveness about particular games (even though he is the one with OCD!!!) he goes from one thing to another and never fixates on one console or game.

 

I think it really is down to their personality and it is important to limit playing time and be aware of their own limitations about playing games. Don't know if that helps!!

 

Stella xx

[chris54]

When watching TV my son soon loose interest and will go off and do something else.

 

He doesn't have any electronic games, so far he has not shown any interest in them.

 

He will if given the chance spend to much time in front of the PC, but as we only have the one his time on it is limited by the fact his mum and me both need/want to use it.

And most of the time when the sun is shining he would rather be outside.

 

In answer to the question, not we do not have any formal restriction on TV/PC but if we feel he has spent to much time in front of them we just say "5 minuets and time to finish ", and that's it.

[baddad]

A while ago i had a strictish rule about 'gaming' - 2.5 hrs max a day, however he wanted to use it (but i'd usually push for a break after more that say 45mins)...

It was hard at first, but he got used to it and now recognises for himself when he needs to take a break...

Now he has that self awareness i rarely have to prompt - he'll take himself into the garden if the weather's good, or if it's lousy switch time between games/telly and other stuff for himself. always easier if you can factor in natural 'breaks' (trips to shops/park/whatever)without making a song and dance of it. we also have 'movie afternoons' some w/e when we'll push the sofa round and watch a DVD together, which is tecnically telly watching but with all the banter/1 - 1 works on another level too.

Modern living - if you take 12 hrs a day + of CBBC/CITV into account, plus all the 'sky 3' and 'Dave' rubbish they likelike brainiac and top gear, plus games consoles, plus PC's, they can be entertained by various boxes pretty much round the clock. If we'd been given that many options as kids I think we'd have taken them too, so it's easy to see the attraction

 

L&P

 

BD

[Karen A]

Hi.We don't ration computer,TV or game time.We probably should think about closer monitoring as especially at weekends and during the holidays I don't like to think about how much time Ben clocks up.It is difficult because all of Ben's interests invlove ICT use and his friends and social network all use them.Many of Ben's interests are positive too he has become a bit of an ICT expert,writes articles featured on one website and helps out with reviewing games on another.Anyway it would be rather hypocrytical of mum to limit PC time when the family are aware of how much time I spend here .OH is certainly aware of the times when life is stressful and I become lost in time here or in gardeing books [as is my current special interest ].

[tjw]

hi my son would live his live on the xbox and wii but he is only allowed 3 games a day 2 on his own and 1 with dad he will only play wwe games on them so we have to limit it as he gets very giddy and excitable while playing , i sometimes think he would climb in the telly while playing, his dad has put a line on the floor it is a dont cross this line rule but he gets so engrossed in the whole thing he has steped over it after 10 sec lol as for tv he would watch spongebob all day if we let him we have now got him to share tv but as soon as our progams are on he is up and down and shouting realy loud at his wwe toys so we carnt win or hear the tv so all in all i do think he watchs to much tv but it is like a bit of a break for us a bit naughty realy

theresa x

[pookie170]

I think most of us give in to temptation from time to time- I was unwell with a migraine earlier this week and I know the boys watched far more telly/played more consoles than I'd normally allow, but it kept them occupied and saved a lot of the squabbling that often occurs.

Usually though, we try to limit gaming to 1-2 hours at a time, if its the Wii its normally the longer time because we all play it together and there's lots of movement and chatting involved. I actually think the Wii has been beneficial in helping both my boys get a better grip on things like turn taking, being a good sport and so on.

Having said that, nothing beats a good old-fashioned board game for a night of family fun!! We were given a great pile of the things from Lija's after school club when they had a clear out. Most are earmarked for our car boot sale, but we kept 2 and I took a few in to my work to replenish the rainy day boxes.

Guess what my lads picked???

'The Enchanted Forest' !!!???!!!

 

'Eh? Doth mine ears deceive me??' I said, as they clutched the box in glee, 'Really?? That one??? Umm...okay...'

Honest, it's the girliest looking game possible and I thought they'd recoil in horror at the very suggestion! But I laid it to one side and we played it a couple of nights later....

Well! What unexpected good fun it was too! I think they were more attracted by the mental little tree pieces that you have to use, but we had a riot and I'm really glad they chose it.

 

I am determined, though, to try and get my boys to use the PC in a more productive way, so I'm going to try out a few free sites and I'll get back to you if they're any good!

 

Esther X

[frogslegs]

TV time is very restricted at home. TV not on at all today. I am tough... We have one TV and one play station which is used a bit but if my son stays too long he gets really hyper, so an hour once or twice a week is ample. They usually watch a film in small bits over one week and a documentary or two a week although I despair about what my daughter likes 'High school musical' and the likes. If I let her it would be on a loop (I can't stand Troy and Gabriella anymore). They get to use the computer a bit also (a couple of hours each a week. I don't know how your children find the time to spend all these hours in front of a screen. Between homework, swimming, music lessons, brain gym.... there is just no time. If the weather is dry we are like to walk in the countryside. The children used to watch more Tv after school but nothing got done and had started watching TV in the morning but that seriously did not work as they would be so focused on that that if you spoke to them they would not take any notice of what you had said, so that's off now. They play more, read more, listen to books on CDs, to a lot of music, argue more and yes they get bored, and get the board games out and are creative, my son loves cooking, building lego and creating electric circuits and my daughter loves crafts and....we TALK!!!!!